New to me 1983 F150

I can hear it ever so slightly when I open the glove box. I'm hoping a control devices plastic hasn't cracked and it's just a line.

And why not here's a photo I took during my test drive tonight.



The truck ran pretty good I still feel like there's room for improvement but that's just how I am. My 91 is like a whole new truck after I went through everything on it so I'm hoping to get the same results with the 83. I'll get into the story more as I post more on what all I've done so far on the 83 the guy that had it before me didn't have it long but he definitely left his mark. I've undone most of those things.

And even though it's a brick nose and a 300 here's a photo of where my 91 is at now. I took this right before I buttoned up the cooling system and fired it up.



So over time I'm hoping to get the 83 in similar condition. It all takes time and patience.

I am using the exact same Labeler with shrink tubing. I went black on yellow. I really like that labeler.

We use Brady at work where I'm an industrial electrician but to be honest Brady costs quite a bit more.

The work flow is better with Brady but most of us in our home shop value functions at a lower cost so the Brother being a little slower doesn't really matter.

I ran out of labels so I still have some to finish up on the 83. If you spot a few missing labels, they be added soon.

if you are hearing an air leak hiss when you open the glove box then that is a fair clue. remove the inner box liner and then you can see two servo motors which operate the dampers for ductwork functions. you should be able to test them with a vacuum pump and a long tube. they are halfway between the glove box and the radio. also, there is a vacuum line connector that runs along the face of the heater core box right in front of the glove box but a little lower.  either of these can be a vacuum leak. however, the more likely is the hvac vacuum switch that is mounted to the back of the climate control panel. the vacuum line which comes across the heater core box goes to this switch. 41 years is a long time for a couple pieces of plastic.

Thank you, I'll look into this. If I don't have to take the entire dash apart to address the leak, I'd take that as a win.

I'm not sure when I'll get to it but I'll try to remember to take some photos when I do.

Smoke works.

Even if you don't smoke, you can run a tube out the window to the vacuum manifold on the front of the cowl and use titanium tetrachloride.

They use this to find drafts in houses and cars.....

I've been on the fence about buying a smoke rig. I think I'll try and replace all the old lines I can lay my fingers on and go from there. If I still have leaks, smoke sounds like the logical way to go about finding the leaks.

I'll probably try and hit it this weekend. I'll have to dig back in the archives for posts coming up. I'll be doing some work to my 91 which is the wrong Era for this site. I have a bunch of older work I can put on here though so stay tuned.

I think the next post I'll go over how I fixed the old rear bezel mounting brackets that basically all shattered when i took it apart to fix the missing letter on the tailgate.

We've got plenty of members with trucks 94 through '97.
Gary has a 2015!

If there's interest I can post stuff on my 91 in a different thread. I bought the truck when it was 8 years old and I was 15. You never really can get over your first love. I'm so glad I kept it all these years. The exterior is starting to get rough but I'm more focused on what makes it go before doing any body work to it.



Next up for it is an all stainless exhaust and high flow cat. I am really curious to see if there's a noticeable change in it. If I'm impressed with the results I may do the same to the 83 at some point.

Go for it!

Yes, we are happy to see posts on other vehicles.  I had a thread on my boat, and Bill has his Chizzler.

a lawnmower even